Letters to the editor, 2/16

Firefighter died knowing he did his best for others

This letter was written in reference to the article printed in the Poughkeepsie Journal on Jan. 30, the day my son, Joseph Kelley, was to be laid to rest.

It is not intended to disrespect any profession. For reporters Lee Higgins and Jane Lerner, I have a few questions:

1. Were you at the World Trade Center the days following the collapse of the twin towers in New York City? My son was. He lost "brothers" following that tragedy. He sat and cried wondering why it wasn't him taken, why the lives of his buddies with family and children were cut short instead of his own.

2. Were you at the second-worst Taconic State Parkway crash where eight people were killed including women and children? My son was there. He did what he could as a firefighter to try to save the innocent lives taken that day.

3. Have you ever gotten up in the middle of the night in the freezing temperatures to put out fires and help your fellow man? Have you seen death? My son has for the past 26 years.

I too was a firefighter and proud of it. An insult on one of us is an insult to all of us. The next time you see a firefighter or police officer shake their hand and thank them. After all, it could involve your home or family. You should visit his grave and feel the love and compassion from fellow firefighters, family and friends. He died knowing he did his best.

Dale Kelley

Hyde Park

Sierra Club to provide buses to climate rally

On Feb. 17 from noon to 4 p.m. there is going to be a rally in Washington, D.C., on climate change. Bill McKibben is among the many speakers.

The Mid-Hudson Sierra Club is providing buses for the trip. If you are interested, go to atlanticchapter@sierraclub.org for details.

I strongly urge you to consider coming and being a part of this important event.

Jack Persely

Staatsburg

People are oppressed when they have no guns

In response to John Jacobs' letter, "Tyranny threat really comes from gun lovers," (Feb. 7): I don't know where Mr. Jacobs learned history, but it is my impression that oppression of the general population of the occupied countries under dictatorships in Europe was accomplished only after disarming the people, thus eliminating their ability to resist.

At the risk of being politically incorrect, one should ask what if every Jew in Europe had had a gun, would there have been a Holocaust?

Chip Strydio

LaGrangeville

Contraception: What possible good can it do?

In my last letter I referred to contraception in a negative light, ("Nation is in state of moral decline," Dec. 23). Now I want to explain why.

Contraception was not accepted in any Christianity or in Judaism until about 1930. Margaret Sanger then was able to convince many Christians and some Jews that it was OK.

Margaret Sanger was particularly interested in seeing to it that black people, other minorities and the handicapped not survive.

Now our government wishes to violate the Constitution by telling religious institutions to provide services even if those services go against the teachings of their faith. I ask you what possible good can contraception do women?

Can people now understand that the Catholic Church wishes to protect women, which it considers all her daughters, from those dangers.

Patricia Tobin Kennedy

Poughkeepsie

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Letters to the editor, 2/16

This letter was written in reference to the article printed in the Poughkeepsie Journal on Jan. 30, the day my son, Joseph Kelley, was to be laid to rest.

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